fever | ateez lore story

CH 14

wooyoung

Another training day at the company. One day too long, but I don't think now is the right time for Yeosang to tell his father about leaving the company.

Yeosang is silent next to me, the air so thin you could cut it with a knife. I'm drained with what to say. I don't think anything I'll say will make him feel better.

"Stop mentally pitying me, Woo. It's embarrassing." He suddenly said, and my head snaps to look at him, my eyes bulging out their sockets and lips glued together.

"Mentally pitying you? Who said such a thing?" I ask, trying to dodge the accusation when it was exactly what I was doing.

"The way you're walking and the way you consistently look at me without saying anything told me such a thing." He blames. I didn't think he paid so much attention to me. I didn't realise the way I was walking told him so. Then I think about it; I kick my feet forward when I'm slightly uncomfortable, and the way I unconsciously continued to look at him from time to time must have been very obvious.

"I'm fine, Woo. Today's a new day." He insists, a hand landing itself onto my shoulder. I look at him, a soft smile painted on his face. He must be an actor if he's this good at lying. If I didn't know him any better, I would have taken that smile of his as genuine. But I know Yeosang like the back of my hand, and whatever he says with that soft smile on his face is nothing but false.

I don't respond to him, however. Like I said, I don't think there is much I can say to make him feel better. If anything, mentioning anything about last week's incident will just hit him the wrong way.

---

The company building is as busy, yet, tranquil as usual. The staff buzzing around the place, the smell of brewing coffee from the cafe and the faint bass booming from the practice rooms. But today feels different. Almost nostalgic, but not in a good way.

Me and Yeo reach the practice room, where we spot through the small, glass window that the rest of the trainees are already there. Especially Yeonjun. He has not spoken to us ever since we told him our plan to depart from the company. I expected him to react like that, so I understand the cold shoulder treatment.

"Hello, children." I joke, hoping to get a laugh out of Yeonjun. Nothing. But the other trainees took the joke well, a few of them throwing their towels or empty water bottles towards me.

"You're the youngest here, you child!" One of the trainees joke back to me, and I laugh with a nod. I know I'm the youngest, and I definitely act like it.

I settle next to Yeosang, who briefly glances at Yeonjun as he monitors our practice from last week.

"He's gone mute on us both." I whisper, feeling sadness wash over me. Yeosang nods, shrugging as he pulls his towel out his bag.

"Little longer. He's our friend, he'll understand." Yeosang advises. He's right, but I can't help but feel like I've betrayed him.

---

"Alright! It's just past 10. Go home, get some rest. You all did well today." Yeonjun praises, clapping his hands, followed by everyone doing so. The air is still salty between us and Yeonjun, but I refuse for us to leave without talking about it. This has gone on too long.

"Are we all ready for debut, guys?" One of the trainees celebrates, slinging his bag over himself. The other trainees respond, but us three don't mutter a word. I take my time to pack, waiting for the other trainees to bid their farewells and leave. Once they do, I open my mouth to speak, but Yeonjun's a step ahead, his words leaving his mouth first.

-"Can we talk?"

Me and Yeosang don't hesitate to agree, and we settle in a little circle in the corner of the room. A wave of silence reigns over for a bit before Yeonjun begins.

"So, you guys still leaving?" He asks, his voice soft, as if he fears the other trainees will enter at any minute. Me and Yeosang share a glance, nodding shamefully. We hear him sigh, and a sudden shift in his position.

"Okay." Is all he says. Nothing else. If the tension earlier was heavy, this is unbearably crushing the both of us right now. The room is so quiet that if you listen close enough, you can hear the chatter from the cafe at the entrance, and we're on the 5th floor.

"Don't be my rivals." He jokes suddenly, that goofy smile we missed playing on his lips. He must have noticed how scared we feel, because he reaches over and punches our arms lightly before giving us a gentle pat on our backs.

"I only hoped to debut with you guys, but I also not only want you guys to be successful, but happy. Whatever happens, we'll always be YWY." He gushes, holding his fist out for a three way fist-bump. I glance at him, and there is nothing but sincerity in those large eyes of his. Yeosang was right. If we give him time, he'll come round to it.

"We didn't doubt you'd understand." Yeosang explains, his Maltese smile returning to his face. Yeonjun coos, jokingly hitting Yeosang like he's overwhelmed with timidity. I only laugh at how goofy he looks.

"What did your father say, Yeosang?" He asks, and me and Yeosang share another look, the sudden realisation of facing his father arising panic in us once again. For a brief second, we forgot about it, but now the thought has us scared all over again.

-"I didn't tell him...yet. But I'll probably explain it to him next week."

"Explain what to me?"

The low, bassy voice that suddenly erupted behind us ran my blood ice cold. I glance at Yeosang at the corner of my eye and realise he's staring to draw pale.